Noynoy must answer raps of detractors

SEN. NOYNOY MUST ANSWER ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM BY DETRACTORS: Election fever is starting to really grip the Philippines, and all sorts of propaganda, for or against a candidate, especially the frontrunners for the presidency, are flying thick and thin, and are raining down like cats and dogs.

It will be up to us to choose which to believe.

But then, the candidates subject of negative propaganda must try to answer the accusations against them, lest their silence be interpreted to mean as acceptance of what is being imputed to them, and this is precisely the advice I have for Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

Since September 2009, there is an email going the rounds of different Internet e-groups, allegedly coming from one “Papi”, which lists down reasons why he, Papi, will not vote for Sen. Aquino. From where I sit, just to set the record straight, Noynoy must answer the charges, some of which are the following:

“(1) His mediocre performance as congressman and a senator, and as a statesman in general. When you think of Noynoy, what really comes into your mind as far as his legislative performance is concerned? Nada. Mar Roxas has Cheaper Medicines Act to boast for; Gibo is a bar topnotcher; Villar has a classic rags-to-riches story.

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“CLOSENESS TO NINOY NOT A GUARANTEE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE”: “But Noynoy? He is just the son of Ninoy and Cory, and nothing more — which brings me to my next reason why I will not vote for him.

“(2) He may be a son of Ninoy, but along with this feudalistic heritage is the Hacienda Luisita issue — wait, Hacienda Luisita Massacre (Google it!). I have no doubts in Ninoy’s capacity to lead the nation (he’s one of my idols, in fact).

“But look at what happened when we thought someone close to Ninoy will be a good replacement (Cory, that is): power shortage, coup attempts, executive-legislative deadlocks, CARP which didn’t apply to the Cojuangcos by the way, and of course, the Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita massacres. Yeah, massacres...

“ (3) His messianic complex (…a messiah complex is a state of mind in which the individual believes he/she is, or is destined to become, a savior). He is saying this is a battle of good and evil, and of course, he is the `good’ part of that equation. (Review #2 above.)

“If the 2010 election is a battle between something and something, well, it is at most a battle of evils and lesser evils. (Unless of course Willie Revillame joins the presidential race, in which case, this would become a battle among evils, lesser evils, and a comedian.)

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GIVE ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE HAS: This is the final part of the article being circulated in the Internet by one “Bernardo Padua” (paduabd@drive communication.com), on why we should give financial and other material support to workers of God:

“{9} For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. {10} And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

“{11} Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. {12} For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

“In Romans 12:6-8 Paul talks about the different gifts and one of these is contributing to the needs of others - with the command 'let him give generously'. (Rom 12:6-8 NIV) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

“{7} If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; {8} if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully....”

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PRAYING OF THE ROSARY IS BIBLE BASED: Roman Catholic Christians practice the praying of the Holy Rosary, which is something that is balked at by others who believe in Christianity on the argument that praying the Rosary is paganistic in origin.

I did some reading on the matter, and indeed, there is nothing in the Holy Bible that says Christians should pray the Rosary, as there is even no mention of the Rosary in any pages of that Book.

But when one looks at the mysteries of the Rosary, one begins to understand that whoever conceived and thought of this prayer, dedicated to Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ, actually was following the examples of many leaders of the Christian faith, enshrined in many pages of the Bible, where they resort to repeating the history of the Israelites, from their exodus to their arrival at the Promised Land, as a means to strengthen their faith.

Just look at the story of Gideon, in Judges 6 and 7 of the Bible, and you will see what I mean. Before Gideon finally relented to be used as God’s chosen one to deliver his people from the Midianites who were causing them sufferings, he had to recount Israel’s story all over again.

This is what is happening when a Roman Catholic prays the Rosary: he is actually repeating a tried and tested tradition of Christian leaders, for he is reminded of the full and entire story of Christ, from the announcement of his birth by the Angel Gabriel to his Ascention to Heaven, taken directly from the Bible itself.

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Three-term-limit rule benefits local execs

SC RULING ON THREE-TERM-LIMIT RULE BENEFITS LOCAL EXECS: Paging elected officials, this one is for you, in relation to your three-term-limit.

Much to the chagrin and dismay I am sure of his political foes, Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad may yet remain his city’s chief executive until 2016, thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling clarifying the meaning of the “three-term-limit” rule as applied to elected officials.

In its reported decision involving a councilor of Lucena City in Quezon Province, the high tribunal is said to have clarified that the three-term limit rule for an elective official does not apply when the official was totally removed from office while serving any of his term.

What this means, the Supreme Court intoned, is that when an elected official is ousted, or divested of his title or office, the three-term-limit rule no longer applies, so that he is given a fresh three terms (or another nine-year term, if he wins) to serve.

In the case of Peewee, a fraternity brod of mine at the UP College of Law Sigma Rho Fraternity, he was given a fresh three term of nine years because in 2007, he was ousted and divested of his title when the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed him on charges of graft and corruption.

So, Mayor Peewee has his opponents who sued him for graft and the Ombudsman who ousted him to thank for his new three term of nine years starting 2010?

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HOW MUCH SHOULD ONE GIVE TO WORKERS OF GOD? Here is the second part of the article being circulated in the Internet by one “Bernardo Padua” (paduabd@drive communication.com), on why we should give financial and other material support to workers of God:

“(James 2:14-17 NIV) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? {15} Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. {16} If one of you says to him, `Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

“(Luke 12:33-34 NIV) Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys... {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“How much should one give? Our Lord Jesus Himself did not specify the amount a Christian should give. If we give, it will be given back to us. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

“(Luke 6:36-38 NIV) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful... {37} `Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. {38} Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’

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WE MUST EXCEL IN THE GRACE OF GIVING: “However in 1 Timothy, Christians are encouraged to give generously. 1TIMOTHY 6:18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. (6:19) In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

“In 2 Corinthians Paul talks about the grace of giving. He is talking about making a gift to those Christians in Jerusalem who are suffering due to famine. He makes the point that the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

“(2 Cor 8:7-15 NIV) But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving. {8} I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others....”

More of this next issue!

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CORONATION OF MARY: The “Coronation of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth” is the fifth “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians, and, despite attempts by non-believers to discredit this aspect of Mary’s life, Catholics continue to hold on to it as part of their Christian faith.

Catholic leaders justify their belief about the coronation of Mary as the “Queen of Heaven and Earth” in the following manner: “(Mary) is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ, the Word incarnate...Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as `the Mother of my Lord.’ [Luke 1:41-43]

“She is the perfect follower of Christ. The maid of Nazareth consented to God's plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God's word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church.

“Thus in an eminent way she won the `crown of righteousness,’ [See 2 Timothy 4:8] the `crown of life,’ [See James 1:12; Revelation 2:10] the `crown of glory’ [See 1 Peter 5:4] that is promised to those who follow Christ….”

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Gordon and Fernando: much more than women urinals

CAN GORDON AND FERNANDO DWELL ON OTHER MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS? The reported bickering between presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon and his running mate, former Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority, over the use of urinals for women in public places in the Philippines is a good political gimmickry, but it is something that fails to impress.

I mean, it is indeed a healthy sign, if both Gordon and Fernando get elected in May 2010 as the country’s next president and vice president, that they could disagree and yet continue to be a team seeking the good of the country.

But, how I wish the two of them (and their handlers who are paid handsomely to make them look good at least until May 2010) would try to crack their a nuts a little harder, as it were, and find some more worthwhile subject matter (other than women’s urinals) to bicker about.

If the reported bickering between them over women’s urinals would be taken as a sign of their administration, I shudder to think what other more mundane things they could devote themselves to when they finally become president and vice president, the grave and destructive problems of the country and the people notwithstanding.

I am sure there is more to a Richard Gordon and to a Bayani Fernando aside from women’s urinals, right?

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LET US START GIVING IN 2010: A guy whose Internet name is “Bernardo Padua” and whose email address is paduabd@drive communication.com, is asking Christians (of whatever sect or denomination) to give more to people who work for God in an email sent worldwide on January3, 2010. Here is a part of this email:

“Let us start giving this year 2010! Blessings be upon us! But to whom do we give? According to our Lord Jesus and the New Testament, Christians should give to the preachers, brothers, sisters and the poor (needy).

“(1 Cor 9:11-14 NIV) If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? {12} If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

“{13} Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? {14}In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

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LOVE NOT IN WORDS AND TOUNGE BUT WITH ACTION: “Workers hundred-fold blessing: According to our Lord Jesus: (Mark 10:29-30 NIV) `I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied, `no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel {30} will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

“In the parable of the sheep and goats we see that the Lord expects us to help our brothers who are hungry, thirsty, needing clothing, or sick or in prison. (Mat 25:37-40 NIV) `Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? {38} When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

“{39} When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' {40} `The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

“(1 John 3:17-18 NIV) If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? {18} Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth....”

More of this next issue, folks!!!

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ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: The fourth “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians is the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which deals with the taking up into heaven of Mary, body and soul.

Even among Christians though, this is a controversial issue, with many of the so-called believers outside of the Catholic faith insisting that the assumption of Mary into heaven did not happen.

But the teachings of Roman Catholic Christians point to the occurrence of the event, and Catholic popes and leaders from the 3^rd century on actually cite many portions of the Bible to justify this belief.

In Wikipedia, an item on the assumption of Mary contains this explanation: “All these passages – John 14:3, Isaiah 60:13, Luke 1:28, Song of Songs 8:5, 1st Corinthians 15:21-26, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 45:9-17, Song of Songs 3:6, 4:8, 6:9, Genesis 3:15, and Revelation 12:1-2 – are drawn upon as Scriptural support of the Assumption both in that original document, and today by Catholic apologists.”

The prevailing thought is that these Biblical references show that Jesus would not have allowed His own mother to have died and her flesh to have degenerated to dust, and that considering Mary’s role in giving birth to the “seed” (Jesus) that will crush Satan, it is believed that the fate of Jesus in ascending to heaven body and soul is the same fate that happened to Mary

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“Handbook 2010”; QC’s next vice: Joy Belmonte

QUEZON CITY’S NEXT VICE MAYOR: JOY BELMONTE: Ms. Joy Belmonte, the lone daughter and youngest child of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte and now the front-running candidate for vice mayor in Quezon City, is pushing for the establishment of a free computer-education system that would make the youth in the city computer-literate.

Joy told Noel Pabustan and Jun Ilagan Lazo, the hosts of the program “Mga Birador ng Bayan” (aired daily at BATAS INTERNET RADIO and BATAS INTERNET TV thru www.batasradio.com at 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.) in an interview Monday, January 04, 2010, that this is necessary to enable Quezon City youngsters to become world-competitive when they seek overseas jobs.

This project is brilliant, if you ask me, considering that there is no more place in the world which does not require computer knowledge as a pre-condition for better overseas employment.

Ms. Joy Belmonte should be allowed to pursue her dream relative to this, and the first step is voting for her as vice mayor of the city ruled by her father for nine years. Recent surveys indicate that she is on her way to realizing victory for her first-ever run for a political position.

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“HANDBOOK 2010”: A GUIDE FOR LIVING: Blyth Fielding, a colleague of mine in the Rotary International Public Image Resource Group for Zone 7 (for Philippines and Indonesia), sent me a wonderful email that should be a must-reading for everyone as we start New Year 2010. Here is the email, entitled “Handbook 2010”:

“Health: 1.Drink plenty of water. 2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. 3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.

“5. Make time to pray. 6. Play more games. 7. Read more books than you did in 2009. 8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. 9. Sleep for 7 hours. 10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

“Personality: 11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

“14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. 16. Dream more while you are awake. 17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. 19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

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LIFE’S PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY: “20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 23. Smile and laugh more. 24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

“Society: 25. Call your family often. 26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything. 28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6. 29. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 30. What other people think of you is none of your business. 31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

“Life: 32. Do the right thing! 33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything. 35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 37. The best is yet to come.

“38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. 39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy. Last but not the least: 40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did....”

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DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: The third “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians concerns itself about the “descent of the Holy Spirit”. This mystery is no longer a part of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but of the Book of Acts.

In its Chapter 2, verses 1 to 41, the Book of Acts tells us that while the disciples of Jesus were gathered in one place on the day of Pentecost, a sound like the blowing a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then, the disciples saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them, filling them with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in other tongues and languages. The Jews who saw and heard them speak in their own dialects were amazed.

Some however made fun of them, saying the disciples were simply drunk. Peter then addressed the non-believers, disputing that they were drunk for it was then only nine o’clock in the morning.

He also delivered an impassioned talk about salvation of sinners by repenting and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, resulting in the conversion of about three thousand people as believers of Jesus.

This event also concretizes the promise of Jesus that He would send the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him, as promised by the Father in heaven (Luke 24:49).

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May 2010 candidates must use the Internet in campaigning

NOYNOY LEADS AMONG FACEBOOK INTERNET USERS: Candidates for president, vice president and other national positions in the May 2010 elections should follow the lead of Sen. Benigno Aquino III in maintaining an Internet-on-line presence, and using social networking sites such as Facebook for pushing their campaign.

As Aquino has shown, it pays to have a Facebook account, considering published reports saying that among the presidentiables in next year’s elections, he has already garnered about 211,000 “supporters and fans” from Facebook users, which is way, way ahead of the 158,000 or so “supporters and fans” of his closest rival, Sen. Manny Villar, the standard bearer of Nacionalista Party.

While there is no way of knowing, at this point, whether these Internet supporters and fans are already registered voters who could participate in the May 2010 polls, they are a very good indicator nevertheless of a candidate’s acceptance by the public and could thus be a good gauge of one’s standing among registered voters.

This is the reason why on-line media, in the likes of BATAS INTERNET TV and BATAS INTERNET RADIO which can be accessed by anyone in the Philippines and in the whole world through www.batasradio.com and which can be reached by phone (496 80 82 or 394 11 91), can really play a very important role come election time.

We have come to a point in our nation’s history where, like the recent US polls that saw the election of a virtual unknown like then Sen. Barrack Obama as US president, Philippine elections can now be greatly swayed by a campaign properly waged through the Internet.

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STUDENTS WITH FOREIGN SOUNDING NAMES LEAD THE PACK ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS: The good news is that Filipino students are proving their excellence in math and science not only in the Philippines but even worldwide.

The bad news for the Department of Education under Secretary Jesli Lapus is that, only Filipino students from private schools are excelling, leaving their counterparts in public schools literally miles and miles behind.

Sadder still is the news that students whose family names sport only two or three letters---indicating their foreign lineage---concededly lead the pack of excellent students who won some 450 math medals in competitions held in the country and abroad for 2009.

Students whose names indicate they are native Filipinos do not seem to be at par with students with foreign-sounding family names, even if the natives also come from private schools and are studying under the same tutors and teachers, following the same curriculum.

Why is this happening? Whether you believe it or not, there is a Biblical dimension to this malady.

In Deuteronomy 28:15, in relation to Deuteronomy 28:43-44, it is there emphasized that a nation which has turned its back on God, whose faith is mere “lip service” and is not manifested by works, curses from God will come and one of these curses is the lordship of foreigners even in our own country.

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ASCENSION OF OUR LORD: The “Ascension of our Lord” is the second “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians, and it speaks about the manner by which the Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven after His resurrection.

Only two of the Gospels contain an account of the ascension. The first account is found in Mark, in its Chapter 16, verses 19 and 20, while the second account is found in Luke, in its Chapter 24, verses 50, 51, 52 and 53.

The Gospels of Matthew and John do not have this story, but the Book of Acts, in its Chapter 1, verses 1 to 11, contain a vivid description of how Jesus was “taken up to heaven.”

In Mark, this is how the story is told: “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.”

In Luke, the ascension is described in this manner: “When he had let them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left and them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

In Acts, the promise of Jesus returning after He was taken to heaven, “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” was made.

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BATAS INTERNET RADIO, BATAS INTERNET TV: Please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click BatasRadio.com). We go on the air 24 hours a day, Mondays to Fridays. Also, watch BATAS INTERNET TV, also at www.batasradio.com (click BatasITV).

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Gibo Teodoro: pole-vaulting to number one among voters

GIBO TEODORO POLE-VAULTING TO NUMBER ONE: Furious and tireless campaigning all throughout the country even during the holidays, and an awesome willingness to go through a punishing campaign schedule where he should be enjoying the yuletide season with his family, are now paying off for former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

From being the tail-ender in surveys for May 2010 presidentiables just before the Christmas season, he has literally pole-vaulted as the number one choice of readers of the 109 year-old newspaper, the Manila Bulletin, which is conducting an online survey of preferences for presidential candidates.

Sarangani Gov. Migz Dominguez, the current president of Lakas-Kampi-CMD where Gibo is the standard bearer, says Gibo’s awareness that he must exert more effort to make Filipino voters know him more and his platform of governance and programs of government is causing him to campaign real hard, much harder in fact than his competitors.

The result of the Manila Bulletin survey confirms that, once the voters get to know who Teodoro is and what he has to offer to the country once he becomes president, more of them will be convinced to vote for him come election time.

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JINGGOY SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL IN HIS STATEMENTS: Somebody should tell Senate Pro Tempore Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to be more careful in issuing statements about the current standing of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, in political surveys leading to the May 2010 elections.

Instead of helping the older Estrada’s chances, Jinggoy’s latest tirade---about the capacity of the former chief executive to overtake the lead now being enjoyed by Sen. Benigno Aquino III should the disqualification case against him be resolved in his favour---will pull the old man down all the more.

Why, if I were a supporter of President Estrada, Jinggoy’s statement would douse my interest to continue supporting him because, evidently, it shows that even Estrada’s closest relatives are entertaining doubts whether he can really run or not.

If there is no assurance that Estrada can hurdle the disqualification case against him, as Jinggoy portrayed quite eloquently although he intended to show otherwise, many Estrada supporters would think twice of continuing to support him and would instead look for other candidates who will not be disqualified and who will have better chances of winning.

I guess that Estrada’s camp should allow just one spokesman to speak for the former President, and that is a job that former Sen. Ernesto Maceda is quite capable of handling---or, is there now a doubt about this matter likewise?

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PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER ROW JUST A PROPAGANDA GIMMICK? I do not wish to be a kill-joy among many fans of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and American star Floyd Mayweather Jr., but I believe that all these talk about the March 2010 fight between the two being cancelled are nothing but pure propaganda gimmick.

Considering the very big prizes that await both Pacquiao and Mayweather, the promoters of their fight should do everything to assure the greatest of interest in the bout, if they are to be able to deliver those prizes and still make a money for themselves.

And what better way to assure interest in the fight than the possibility that it is not going to push through? Even the Pacquiao threat to file a court case against Mayweather and his father for raising claims that the Pinoy boxing icon has taken steroids in the past to assure his victory in previous fights, while it may push through, will merely be a part of the gimmick here.

Expect the fight to go on, therefore, but then I am afraid that Pacquiao will have to be extra careful, particularly in protecting his right ear which Brazilian Miguel Cotto smashed during their own bout.

Pacquiao’s doctors must make sure that that ear of the Filipino champion has already healed before March 2010, because if I were Mayweather, I know exactly where to hit Pacquiao to nail him down.

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RESURRECTION OF JESUS, AS FIRST GLORIOUS MYSTERY: After the “Sorrowful Mysteries”, the “Glorious Mysteries” in the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians follow. The “Glorious Mysteries” constitute the last batch of the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The first of the so called “Glorious Mysteries” is the “Resurrection of Jesus”, and long accounts of it are contained in Matthew 28:1 to 20, Mark 16:1 to 20, Luke 24:1 to53, and John 20 and 21.

All of these Gospels say that Mary Magdalene and another woman went to the place where Jesus was entombed, after his crucifixion and death, and found that His body was no longer there.

Then, an angel of the Lord appeared, and told the women that Jesus has risen, as He prophesied about Himself, and was in fact going to Galilee, to meet His disciples.

Shortly after this and in many other incidents thereafter, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, allowing them to touch His wounds, even eating with them, and, finally, giving them the Great Commission: to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus likewise ordered His disciples to teach the nations to obey everything that He taught and commanded the disciples, assuring them that He will be with them, to the very end of the age.

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In 2010, Filipinos must try Biblical spirituality

BIBLICAL SPIRITUALITY IS THE DEMAND OF THE TIMES: What are our New Year 2010 wishes? First and foremost, a prayerful and Biblically-oriented Filipino Christians, who will espouse their faith by their works, and who will use the Bible as the basis of their thoughts, words and deeds

This country and our people have already tried almost all possible solutions to the political, social, economic, governmental and peace and order problems we have been experiencing for many generations now, but nothing ever worked.

We are still poor, destitute, and are economically-deprived even in our own land, whereas foreigners are lording it over in business, politics and almost in all other aspects of our day-to-day living.

Perhaps, we should now try spirituality (not religion, for religion will only divide us further) based on the Bible for Christian Filipinos, or on the Koran for Muslim Filipinos and on other Holy Books for other Filipino religions.

The Christian Bible says it is only when we go back to God through His commands, laws and decrees that He will heal our land from the curses brought about by our having turned our backs on Him, and it is only when we learn to be humble before Him and to pray, to seek Him and stop our wickedness that we will be exalted as a nation.

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CARRYING OF THE CROSS: All of Christendom are aware that before Jesus was crucified, His tormentors greatly increased His suffering by compelling Him to carry the cross with which He will be crucified.

This part of Jesus’ life is called “Carrying of the Cross” and it is now the fourth mystery in the “Sorrowful Mysteries” of the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians. An account of it could be found in all the Gospels: Matthew 27:31-35, Mark 15:20-22, Luke 23:28-31 and John19:17.

Again, the rendering of the event by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is relatively short and direct to the point.

What one sees is merely the act of the soldiers leading Jesus away from Pilate, ordering Him to carry the cross, and, along the way, compelling Simon from Cyrene to carry the cross, too.

In Luke, however, one notices the fact that while Jesus was carrying the cross, there were “a large number of people” following Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.

When Jesus saw the mourners, He told them not to mourn for Him but that they should mourn for themselves instead, for a time was coming to them when they will wish that they were not born at all, in view of the grievousness of their sin against Him

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               CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS: The final mystery in the “Sorrowful Mysteries” of the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians is the “Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.” As this statement suggests, it is an account of how Jesus died through crucifixion.

               In Matthew, it can be found in its Chapter 27, verses 33 to 61. In Mark, it is written in its Chapter 15, verses 22 to 47, while in Luke, this story is told in its Chapter 23, verses 32 to 56. In John, it is narrated in its Chapter 19, verses 18 to 42.

               Despite its obvious defeatist stance because it portrays the death of Jesus, the “Crucifixion and Death of Jesus” actually represents a glorious victory for the Son of God and for all those who believe in Him.

               For this “death” is no death all. It is a victorious fulfillment of what Jesus had been saying all along, that He was going to die in the hands of sinners, so that the Scriptures will be fulfilled.

               Then, this death was a necessary process, as it were, so that sins could be forgiven, and its actual happening, in the full view of witnesses, confirms God’s forgiveness of everyone who believes in Jesus and for those who repent and turn from their wicked ways.

               The death of Jesus, therefore, signals a “defeat”, yes, but it is a defeat of sin and wickedness, and the triumph of God’s great love for man.

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               UP SIGMA RHO JANUARY 09, 2010 FETE SET:  Here is an announcement for the members of the Sigma Rho Fraternity of the UP College of Law that reached me through texting, coming from Brod. Juancho Baun:

               “To welcome the New Year, you are cordially invited for lunch on Saturday, January 09, 2010, 12 noon, at the Mckinley Room, Manila Polo Club, Forbes Park, with brods Johnny Enrile, Ed Angara and Frank Drilon in attendance.

               “Happy New Year. See you there. Thanks. Brods Boy Reyno, Boy Lazation, Nilo Pena and Nonong Cruz.”

               There! I hope all Sigma Rhoans read this announcement on time for the affair. BATAS INTERNET RADIO and BATAS INTERNET TV, through www.batasradio.com, will cover the event live, and broadcast it nationally and internationally.

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BATAS INTERNET RADIO, BATAS INTERNET TV: Please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click BatasRadio.com). We go on the air 24 hours a day, Mondays to Fridays. Also, watch BATAS INTERNET TV, also at www.batasradio.com (click BatasITV).

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